SSP WATERS ONLY THREE METERS BELOW THE SATYAGRAHA PLACE IN THE
NARMADA VALLEY

SATYAGRAHIS RESOLVED TO FACE THE SUBMERGENCE

According to the latest information (noon of 20th July, 1999), the
backwaters of the Sardar Sarovar Project in Narmada valley has been
rising at a rapid pace with water remaining 3 meters (10 feet) in height
and 45 meters short from the Domkhedi Satyagraha places. Similarly at
Jalsindhi, the water has been rising. At Hafeshwar, the approach point
to the submergence villages and the Satyagraha places of Domkhedi and
Jalsindhi the water level was 97 meters. The people in the satyagraha
places are determined to face the waters of unjust submergence. From
last two days,the fields of the villages like Surung, Bharad (Akrani,
Maharashtra) and Ankadiya, Jalsindhi (M.P.) started submerging. The
people at both the places are determined to face the submergence even at
the cost of their life to save the life and natural resources of the
valley, according to the declaration today by Medha Patkar, Baba
Muhariya, Luvariya and other satyagrahis.

A large contingent of Maharashtra police had arrived to take 'action'
against the satyagrahis. The people have foiled some attempts of police
to come near the Satyagraha site. The Madhya Pradesh police is all
set to crack down on the Satyagraha. The people made the police to retreat
on Monday.

The water level at the damsite on the morning of 20th July was 90.4
meters. The water level is increasing at Badwani (Rajghat) also.

The Narmada valley tribals-peasants are protesting against the forcible
submergence and displacement imposed upon by the government. They have
decided to challenge the fraud which the government has been playing
upon the people and judicial processes. The government has filed false
affidavits regarding the resettlement when even the first few villages
near the dam site in Gujarat could not be fully resettled.
The people are protesting against imposing the submergence, displacement
and the dam on them and the people of India. They have demanded the full
review of the project with the public hearing and through a new
tribunal. They made it clear that allowing the construction on the dam
would be the destruction of the valley and the democratic norms of this
country.